The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1887-04-23
interesting Discourse on Fish.
NO. Picarnne.l

III tue bonnet OaTre cIeVaSse
was closed, fishing in Lake Pont-
chartrasn would be much better,n
was at one time urged by ANA.
teur sportsmen as a reason why
the creyasse should be stopped.
Prior to the time at which the cre-
vase occurred, crOakers, reddish
and sheephead fishing in Lake
Pontehartrain was excellent; but
the moment the white river water
commenced to mlngle with the
brackish water of the lake reddish
disappeared, as did also the larger
sized croakers. But instead of
these fish the lake filled up with
black bass, rock bass, sac.a-lait
and goggle-eye perch, while
smaller croakers and fine sheep
haad appeared to increase in num-
bers at certain seasons of the year.
Bass fishing was excellent, aud the
quality as well as quantity of fish
taken superior to that which was
caught prior to the crevasse.
At the mouth of the various
bayous emptying into the lake on
the south shore the fishing was
simply splendid. Afternoons and
mornings a fisherman taking up a
position at the mouth of either of
the bayous would catch probably
from so to 100 magnificent rock
bass ranging in weight from two
to five pounds each, with an occa-
sional founder, green trout or sac.
a.lait. Inside the bayons green
trout or black bass were also plen.
tiful, and it was not an extraordl.
nary occurrence for an amature
fisherman to carry home a string
with 100 trout or more, the result
of one days fishing. Striped oass
were also caught in largo quanti.
ties, and other delicate and tooth.
some fish.
In the fall of the year the old
row of piles, formerly the wharf OF
the old Nashville Railroad q short
distance above Bayou Tchoupi.
toulas, at Pavarie Cottage, also an
old wharf, at the ruins of the
wharf of the old Jefferson Railway
at West End, the breakwater al
Milneburg and other similar points
' fine large sheephead and drum
were caught.
When Bonnet Carre crevasst
was closed all these fish excep
: sheephead and founders disap
peared, and it is very rare thing
for a black bass to be caught II
any of the bayous, while rock bass
: the gamest and best fish Of tina
species, disappeared entirely
} The croakers, reddish and sheep
head did not come back into thei
former haunts in the lake as rapid
, ly as was anticipated and in con
sequence fishing for the past few
: years has been very poor. Re
Gently some croakers have beer
, caught, but these were small ant
do not appear to bite as freely al
of old.
The question has often suggest
ed itself to the amateur fishermen
Where did all these fine fish come
: from from the Mississippi River
: or out Of the swampsf If they
! came from the river how is 1t thai
; none are caught there No fisher
man thinks of catching anything
in the Mississippi River except
! mud catfish or buffalo, yet there
: are millions of the finest fish thai
swim in the river and none are
caught. How can this be explain
ed' If they took the bait in the
waters which run into the lake
why is 1t that they do not bite In
the riverY Has any one ever at
tempted to catch rock bass in the
river with minnow bait, fly, bob
spinner or trolling spooni Al
answer to these questions wonld
be grateful received by a large
number of amateur fishermen who
to this day look back with delight
to the magnificent sport they uset
to have at the mouth of Indian
Tchoupitoulas, Labayre and Lorii
, Bayous.